Filter cleaning device



I Feb. 20, 1962 H EVERRQAD 3,021,972

FILTER CLEANING DEVICE Filed 001;. l0, 1960 /M/f/vmn #PHE/P7? LEffi/Pana 3,021,972- FILTER CLEANING DEVICE Herbert L. Everroad, Denver,Colo., assigner to Everroad Supply Co., Denver, Colo., a corporation ofColorado Filed Get.. 10, 1960,. Ser. No. 61,638 2 Claims. (Cl. 214-340)yThis invention relates to a filter cleaner and more particularly to adevice for cleaning the large cylindrical type of corrugated paper airfilters' as used' on heavy industrial engine air cleaners.

Filters of the above type are hollow and cylindrical in form and areprovided with relatively thick, perforated walls containing an annularpacking of folded filter paper in which the foreign materials in the airflowing to the engine are entrapped. The lters are formed in a varietyof diieringidiameters, differing lengths and differing wall thicknessesand, due to their relatively tightly-packed filter paper are exceedinglydifficult to clean. As a result, cleaning is rarely attempted sinceV itis usually more economical and less time consuming to simply replaceclogged filters with new filters.

The principal object of this invention is to` provide an economicalhighly efficient and easily used filter cleaning device by means' ofwhich the dust, sand, dirt and other debris can be quickly andefficiently removed from used filters so that the latter will berestored to their original freeairfiowcondition- Another object of thisinvention is to so construct the filter cleaner that it will beadaptable for use on filters of various diameters, various lengths andvarious wall thicknesses.

A. further object is to provide a power-actuated filter cleaner whichwill make use of compressed air jets for blowing foreign materials fromthe filters and which will also employ compressed air as a power mediumfor rtating the filters in the path of the jets so as to eliminate, thenecessity for electric motors, electrical connections, etc., so that thecompressed air supply with which all service stations are supplied willserve both for cleaning the filters and for the mechanical operation ofthe cleaner.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of theinvention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency.These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is hadto the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numeralsrefer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout thedescripn tion.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a top cleaner;

FIG. 2 is a cross section through the improved filter, taken on the line2 2, FIG. 1, showing in broken line at 1t) a conventional air cleanerfilter in place thereon;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 33, FIG. l; and

FIG. 4 is a similarly enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 44, PIG. 2.

The improved air filter cleaner comprises a rectangular, box-like pan 11having a closed bottom 12, two side walls 13 and two end walls 14.Outwardly projecting flanges 15 are formed along the upper edges of thetwo side walls 13 to support the box on any desired supportingstructure, such as in rectangular opening in a work bench or rack.

The pan 11 constitutes a roller-supporting frame and two roller shafts16 and 17 extend between and through the end walls 14 in parallel,spaced-apart relation. The shafts 16 and 17 are fixed in the end walls14 in any plan View of the improved air filter 3,021,972 Patented Feb.20, 1962 2. desired manner such asby means of set' collars- 19 lockedthereon by means of suitable set screws 19.

A hollow, cylindrical roller 2d surrounds the shaft 16 and a duplicatehollow, cylindrical roller 21 surrounds the shaft 1'7. The rollers 20vand 21 may bev for-med from any suitable material. TheyV are `preferablyformed from relatively thick-wall plastic tubing. The rollers arerotatably mounted on their respective shafts by means of suitable,anti-friction bearings 22 fitted into the extremities of the rollers.The inner races of the bearings, shown at 23,v are forced on orvotherwise fixedlymounted on their respective shafts so that the rollers20 or 2 1 may rotate freely about the stationary shafts. Each of therollers' is provided withA a terminal belt groove 24 and a powertransmission belt 25, preferably, an endless semielastic rubber belt, istrained about the belt grooves 24 to cause the two rollers 20 and 21 torotate in unison'.

An air turbine disc 26 is concentrically` and ixedly mounted on oneextremity ofthe roller 21 by means of attachment screws 27 or in anyother desired manner. A plurality of curvated turbineiblades 28` areformed on the turbine discv 26 and an annular outer disc 29, having acentral air dischargel opening 36, is supported by the bladesZSconcentricallyab'out the axis oi' the shaft 17. The discs126 and 29y andthe blades 2SV forma turbine wheel for driving the roller 21. A jetofcompressed air is impinged againstthe blades Z8 from kan air nozzle 31directedr tangentially against the turbine wheel as shown in FIG. 2. Theair nozzle 3 1I is formed on the extremity of a preferably coiled lengthof air tubing 32 whichl extends' through one ofthe side walls 13 and islocked therein by conventional lock nuts 33 or other suitable tubingfittings.

It can be seen that an air jet directed from the nozzle 31 against therblades 28 will rotate-the; rollerV 21 and, through the medium of thevbelt 25, will simultaneously rotate the roller 2li, and that if aconventionalcylindrical air filter 10 be resting upon the rollers 20 and21, as shown in FIG. 2, the filter will be rotated in the directionofthe arrow of FIG. 2.

Means are provided for blowing jets of compressed air through the wallof the filter as it rotates. The air jet structure employs a verticallyadjustable, mounting block 34 which is clamped n a vertical positionagainst one of the end walls 14 by means of a clamp bolt 35 whichextends through a vertically, elongated bolt hole 36 in the mountingblock 34and terminates in a clamp nut 37 on the exterior of the wall.The mounting block 34 is guided vertically by means of suitable guidestrips 38 fixed to the inner surface of the end wall 14 in any desiredmanner such as by means of suitable cap screws 39.

The mounting block 34 is drilled longitudinally to provide a verticalair passage 40 which is closed at its top by means of a suitable plug41`andwhich terminates at its bottom in an elbow fitting 42. A liexiblehose 43 extends from the elbow fitting 42 to a suitable mounting fitting44 in a side wall 13. Two air portv openings are drilled into the block34 to communicate with the air passage 40 in vertically-spaced relation.The openings are threaded to receive an upper tubing nipple 45 and alower tubing nipple 46.

A coupling 47 on the extremity of an upper perforated jet tube 48 isthreaded on the upper nipple 45 and a coupling 49 on the extremity of alower, perforated jet tube 50 is threaded on the lower nipple 46. Eachof the jet tubes is closed at its outer end and is provided with aplurality of spaced-apart jet openings 51 directed in a common radialdirection. The jet openings in the upper jet tube 48 are directeddownwardly to direct air jets downwardly against the inside of thefilter 10 and the jet openings in the lower jet tube 50 are directedupwardly ice to direct air jets upwardly against the outside ot' thefilter 10 so as to loosen and blow away all foreign accumulations from,on, and within the filter walls.

- Air'may be supplied to the air tubing 32 and the air hose 43 from asuitable source in any desired manner. As illustrated, compressed air issupplied to the flexible hose 43 through a conventional globe valve 52and air is supplied to the air tubing 32 through a similar conventionalglobe valve 53. The globe valves are connected to an air supply line 54in any desired manner and through any suitable fittings 55 so thatcontrolled, compressed air will be supplied to the air nozzle 31. and tothe jet tubes 48 and SQ.

As before stated, the air tilters 10 come in a variety of diameters anda variety of lengths. However, the rollers 20 and 21 will supportfilters of any diameter exceeding the distance between the two rollers.A smaller diameter iilter will reach further downwardly between the tworollers than the larger diameter filters. This difference in verticalheight of the lower portions of the filters is easily accommodated byadjusting the mounting block 34 upwardly or downwardly between its guidestrips 38 and locking it in the desired position by means of the clampnut 37. To maintain filters of various lengths in the properlongitudinal position on the jet tubes, an elastic 4limit belt 56 isprovided which is trained around the rollers 20 and 21. The rollers aresimilarly formed with a plurality of spaced limit grooves 57 forreceiving the limit belt 56. Thus, for short filters, the belt 56 ismoved into .the grooves 57 toward the mounting block 34 and for tongfilters, the belt is moved into grooves 57 away from the mounting blockso as to maintain the lters in proper position about the jet tubes. Y

While, as illustrated, only one turbine wheel is ernployed, it isconceivable that a similar turbine structure could be applied to each ofthe rollers should additional power be desired. Should it be desired touse only external air jets only the lower jet tube 50 is necessary andthe upper nipple 45 can be closed by a suitable cap fitting. Theopposite is true where only internal air jets are desired. In the latterevents, spacing of the jets from the filter can be adjusted byadjustment of the mounting block 34.

While a specilic form of the improvement has been described andillustrated herein, it is to be understood that the same may be variedwithin the scope of the appended claims, without departing from thespirit of the invention,

Having thus described the invention what is claimed and desired to besecured by Letters Patent isi 1. In a pneumatic air iiiter cleaningdevice of the type having two parallel, spaced-apart, horizontal rollersfor supporting an air filter in a horizontal position, means for varyingthe effective length of said rollers to accommodate filters of variouslength comprising: spaced-apart belt grooves in each roller in alignmentwith the belt grooves in the other roller and an endless elastic beltsur rounding both rollers and being interchangeable between selectedpairs of said aligned grooves to stop longitudinal travel of said airfilter along said rollers at any desired point.

2. In a pneumatic filter cleaning device of the type described in claiml, means for rotating said rollers in unison comprising: an endlesspower transmission belt extending from a belt groove in a lirst rollerto a belt groove in a second roller at one extremity of both; a bladedturbine ixedly mounted on the other extremity of the first roller; andmeans projecting a jet of air against said turbine to rotate bothrollers simultaneously.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS329,847 Nadorl Nov. 3, 1885 1,712,75l Cunningham May 14, 1929 2,178,701Petre Nov. 7, 1939 2,242,901 Birch May 20, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS 412,621Great Britain July 2, 1934 797,940 Great Britain Iuly 9, 1958

